Michelassi II Strictureplasty for Crohn's Disease A New Side-to-Side Isoperistaltic Strictureplasty With Discontinuous Bowel Loops

Objective: We report on a new side-to-side isoperistaltic strictureplasty (SSIS), the Michelassi II or end-to-side-to-side-to-end strictureplasty, performed with discontinuous bowel loops. Summary Background Data: The SSIS Michelassi strictureplasty was described a quarter of a century ago to avoid massive bowel resections in patients with extensive fibrostenosing Crohn's jejuno-ileitis. Methods: The end-to-side-to-side-to-end strictureplasty is performed in patients presenting with 3 severely fibrotic and deformed bowel loops separated by 2 diseased segments with sequential strictures. After the resection of the 3 severely diseased segments, the remaining 2 discontinuous segments are used to perform a SSIS, according to the original description. The 2 ends of the SSIS are then anastomosed with the proximal and the distal bowel, respectively. In the presence of discrepancy in length between the 2 discontinuous segments, the proximal small bowel is recruited to equalize the length and aid in the performance of the SSIS. Conclusions: The Michelassi II, or the end-to-side-to-side-to-end strictureplasty, is a variant of the original SSIS technique to address severe and extensive small bowel Crohn's disease presenting with 3 severely fibrotic and deformed bowel loops separated by 2 diseased segments with sequential strictures.